Ignition mechanism.



F. CUNRAD.

IGNITION MECHANISM APPLICATION FILED APR. 3. 191.4'.

' NNO z( `w r1/IWL- ATTORNEY entran Parana* carros.

FRANK CONRAD, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGI-IOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

IGNITION IVLECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec.'4.,1917.

Application filed April 3, 1914. Serial No. 829,191.

To all whom t may concern Be it knovvn that I, FRANK CORAD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the explosive charges4 of gas engines.

My invention has for its object to provide a mechanism of the above indicated character which zis simple and inexpensive in construction and in Which certain parts are combined -to forma unitary structure.

In the construction of magnetos and other types ofgenerators 'that are designed to 'furnish high-tension current for ignition purposes, it is the usual practice to employ an induction coil and a Ihigh-tension distributer which connects the secondary Winding of the induction coil to the cylinders in the order in Which they are to be` fired. These devices are separatel and distinct and,A in some cases, are-aJ considerable distance apart. The termmals of the devices are connected by insulated conductors that are detaclhablyl fastened to the teriiiinals. In practice, considerable trouble hasresulted from the 'rounding of the conductors or from breaks 1n the'circuits caused by loose connections.

I provide anarrangement in which the stationary portion of a distributer and the casing of'an. induction coil are constructed of an integral mass of molded or plastic insulating material. The structures thus combined, form an end casingor a cover plate for the dynamo-electric machine. The conductors which connect terminals of the induction coil to those of the distributer are embedded in the casing, the connections being made. permanent at the place of manufacture.

l My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is an end View, in elevation, 'of an end plate cfa dynamo-electric machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line II--IIof Fig. 1. `3 is a View, inlongitudinal section, of a portion of a dynamo-electric machine embodying my invention. l

- My invention is shown as employed in connection with a small generator ofV current suitable for ignition or other purposes.- The generator 1 comprises a. field magnet 2, an armature 3' and an armature shaft Ll.

QA pinion 5, that is mounted upon the forward, end 'of the armature shaft 4, meshes with a gear wheel 6 that is secured to one end of a short shaft 7, the latter being ro`A .tatably mounted, by means of suitable ball bearings 8, in the frame 9 of the generator A circular insulating block 10, that iss@ cured upon the outer face ofthe gear Wheel G, has embedded in it a conducting tubell, the axis of which is` inclined to the aXis ofv 'the gear wheel 6 and the block 10, and-the inner end of'vvhich is provided with an eX- posed extension l2 to form a central contact member upon the `outer face of the block 10. The tube 11 serves as a receptacle and guide for a brush 13, a spring ll'for resiliently pressing the brush outwardlybeing interposed between'tlie inner end of the brush and the bottom of av recess in the blockv 8 that constitutes an extension of the opening in the tube 1l. v

The parts just described are inclosed by a cover block 15, that is clamped or votherwise suitably secured to the end face of the generator frame and is preferably composed of molded insulating material, it being provided with an inclined or frusto-conical inner face against which the outer end of the brush 13 bears. A plurality of conductors 1G, that are embedded in the cover plate 15, are'provided, at their outer ends, With terminals 17 `for connection to' .any suitable ignition device. The conductors 16 terminate,

,at their inner ends, in enlargements or segments 19 that have uniformly spaced con-l tactv faces that are flush With the inclined terposed between the inner end of the brush 23 and the bottom end of the tube 22, causes the brush to resiliently engage the contact member 12. Y

AThe cover 15 is provided, atits upper end, with a recess or opening 25 to be occupied by an induction coil 26. The primary windings oi' the induction coil are connected to sleeve members 27 that are embedded in the cover 15, by means of conductors 28 that are embedded also in the cover 15. The conductor 20, which is connected to the central contact member 12, is connected to the secondary winding of the induction coil in any suitable manner (not shown):

In the construction of the cover 15, the conductors 20 and 28 are placed in their proper relative 'positions within the mold previous to the pouring of the insulating material. .After 4the molded cover 15 has' shown) which are connected to and insulated' from the end plate 9. also, as terminals for of the coil 26.

In the' operation of the ignition mechanism, the terminals 31 will be connected, in any suitable manner, to the source of supply of current and the terminals 17 are connected in proper order to the cylinders of a gas engine. I-Iigh-ten'siony current will then traverse the conductor 20, tube 22 and brush 23 to the central contact member l2 upon the block 10 ,and from thence to the brush 13 which successively engages and conducts current into the lower ends of the conductors 16 and thereby-distributes current to the engine cylinders in their proper sequence.

vIt Will 'be noted that I have provided a mechanism in which a number of closely related parts have been combined to form a unitary structure. By means of this ar- The screws 81 serve, the primary Winding rangement, all danger of short circuits or of` grounding the conductors which connect the induction coil to theV distributer, is avoided. Also, there is no danger that the conductors will be loosened at their points of connection by the vibration incident to the4 operation of av gas engine of an automobile.

I claim as my invention: l

I. In an ignition mechanism, the combination with a dynamo-electric machine, of an insulating end casingtherefor, an induction coil permanently and completely inclosed by said casing, terminals for said coil,

and conductors -if'or connecting said tei"- minals to said coil, said conductors being surrounded by said insulating -material 2. In an ignition mechanism, the combination with a distributer comprisin a sta# tionary portion, of an induction coi a casing for said coil, said casing being integral` with the stationary portion of said distributer, and means for electrically connecting said coilto said distributer.

3. In an ignition mechanism, the combination with a dynamo-electric machine, of an end casing therefor having a recess, an induction coil in said recess, a distributer comprising a stationary portion that is integral with said casing, and means for electrically I an end casing therefor formed of insulating material and provided with a recess, an induction coil permanently inclosed therein, a distributer comprising a stationary portion integral With said casing, and means for lelectrically connecting said coil to said distributer.

6. In `an ignition mechanism, the combination with a dynamo-electric machine and a casing member therefor lformed of insulating material, of an induction coil inclosed by said casing', terminals carried by said casing,

a distributer comprising a stationary portion` that .isintegral' with said casing, and conductors embedded in said insulatingmaterial for connecting .the coil to said terminals and to 'said distributer.

7. In an ignition mechanism, the combination with a dynamo-electric machine, of

an end-casing therefor formed of insulating material and provided With a recess, an induction coilin said recess, a distributer com prising a rotatable portion and a coacting .stationary portion that is integral with said casing, and a'conductor embedded in said casing for connecting said coil to said distributer. p

8, In 'anl ignition mechanism, the combination ywith an ignition distributer having a stationary portion, of a coil, and a casing for said coi-l that is integral with said stationary portion. 9. In an ignition mechanism, the combination with an ignition distribute having a stationary portion of insulating material, of a coil, and a casing for said coil that is integral with said stationary portion.

10. In an ignition mechanism, the combination Witb an ignition distributer having a.

stationary portion of insulating material, of a coil, 'and an insulating caslng 4for com` pletely nciosing said coil'that is inteigjral With said stationary portion.

10 gral With said stationary portion and an electric'alvoondueto'r embedded in said casingt'for :connecting saidv coil to said' distributeni In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed 'my name-this 27th day of March, 1914. Y lr FRANKCONRAD.

Witnesses: f

W. L. WRIGHT,

B. B. HINEs. 

